Two prominent Nigerians feature in global ranking for trade, governance, and media influence
Two influential Nigerian figures, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mo Abudu, have been included in Forbes’ prestigious 2025 ranking of the 100 World’s Most Powerful Women. The annual list, which highlights women driving decision-making across global business, politics, culture, and international leadership, was released on Wednesday.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, positioned at No. 92 on the list, is celebrated for her role as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). She made history as both the first woman and the first African to lead the institution since taking office in March 2021. Forbes recognizes her as an “economist and international development professional” with over three decades of experience spanning Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America.
Her distinguished career includes serving twice as Nigeria’s Finance Minister (2003–2006 and 2011–2015) and a brief stint as Foreign Affairs Minister in 2006. She is also noted for chairing the board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has immunized more than 760 million children globally. Okonjo-Iweala, a Harvard graduate with a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is lauded for advocating trade as a key instrument for poverty reduction and inclusive growth in developing nations.
Mo Abudu, listed at No. 98, is recognized as an influential media executive, philanthropist, and the founder of EbonyLife Media. She launched EbonyLife TV in 2006, and the network now boasts a reach across over 49 countries, including destinations in the UK and the Caribbean. Forbes highlights her success in securing strategic partnerships with major international entities, including Sony Pictures Television, AMC Networks, and Netflix. EbonyLife achieved a milestone by becoming the first African studio to sign a multi-title film and TV deal with the streaming giant. In November 2025, the company further expanded its digital presence with the launch of its new streaming application, EbonyLife ON Plus.
Other influential women on the 2025 Forbes list
The 2025 ranking also features numerous high-profile global leaders and corporate executives, reflecting the expanding dominance of women in technology, finance, and politics:
| Rank | Name | Position / Role |
| No. 1 | Ursula von der Leyen | President, European Commission |
| No. 2 | Christine Lagarde | President, European Central Bank |
| No. 3 | Sanae Takaichi | Japan’s first female Prime Minister |
| No. 5 | Claudia Sheinbaum | President of Mexico |
| No. 10 | Lisa Su | CEO, AMD |
| No. 12 | Ruth Porat | President and CIO, Alphabet |
| No. 16 | Amy Hood | CFO, Microsoft |
| No. 37 | Colette Kress | Nvidia |
| No. 41 | Susan Li | CFO, Meta |
| No. 50 | Sarah Friar | CFO, OpenAI |
| No. 71 | Kim Kardashian | Reality Star and Entrepreneur (Skims) |
| No. 73 | Daniela Amodei | Co-founder and President, Anthropic |
| No. 79 | Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah | Prime Minister of Namibia |
The inclusion of leaders like Lisa Su and Daniela Amodei emphasizes the growing recognition of women leading advancements in technology and artificial intelligence. The list also highlighted the global impact of women in entertainment, such as the team behind Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters (No. 100), and entrepreneurs like Kim Kardashian, who secured her spot after raising significant capital for her company, Skims.
